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Nebraska Hoops Game Day: Wisconsin

Robin Washut profile picby: Robin Washut7 hours agoRobinWashut

Now 9-0 and up to No. 23/22 in the national rankings, Nebraska is riding high after its blowout victory over in-state rival Creighton.

However, the Huskers’ next big test awaits tonight with their Big Ten opener against Wisconsin. Here is what you need to know…

Who, What, Where, When

Nebraska Cornhuskers (9-0, 0-0 Big Ten) vs. Wisconsin Badgers (7-2, 1-0 Big Ten)

Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025 – 8:00 p.m. CT

Pinnacle Bank Arena (15,500)

TV: Big Ten Network

Radio: Huskers Radio Network

Internet/Streaming: BTN Plus

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Nebraska projected starters

Jamarques LawrenceGSr.6-3/185Lawrence now ranks third in the Big Ten in Net Player Rating at +40.3. He finished with eight points, three assists, and three rebounds for a team-high +/- of 29 against Creighton.
Sam HoibergGSr.6-0/180Hoiberg was arguably Nebraska’s MVP against Creighton, scoring 15 points and five assists over his 31 minutes of work. He now boasts a 4.5-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio for the season.
Pryce SandfortGJr.6-7/210After his 13 points, seven rebounds, and three steals in the win over Creighton, Sandfort now ranks 16th in the Big Ten in scoring (15.8 ppg) and 13th in 3-point percentage (37.5%).
Berke BuyuktuncelFJr.6-10/240Buyuktuncel only scored six points on 1-of-6 shooting vs. Creighton, but he also hauled in a career-high 13 rebounds in the win. Those were the most boards by a Husker this season.
Rienk MastFSr.6-10/250 Mast scored 13 of his game-high 20 points in the second half vs. Creighton, marking his fourth 20-point effort of the season. He now ranks ninth in the Big Ten in scoring at 18.1 ppg.

Wisconsin projected starters

Nick BoydGSr.6-3/177A transfer from San Diego State/Florida Atlantic, Boyd ranks sixth in the Big Ten and second on the team with 20.2 ppg while leading the Badgers with 3.3 apg.
John BlackwellGJr.6-4/203The reigning Big Ten Player of the Week, Blackwell scored a team-high 30 points with six 3-pointers in the win over Marquette. He ranks third in the conference and leads UW at 21.0 ppg.
Andrew RohdeGSr.6-6/195A transfer from Virginia/St. Thomas, Rohde averages 7.4 points and ranks second on the team with 2.6 assists and 1.7 steals per game this year.
Aleksas BieliauskasFFr.6-10/235The freshman from Lithuania averages 4.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks per game while shooting 53.3 percent from the field on the season.
Nolan WinterFJr.7-0/235A second-year starter for Wisconsin, Winter is scoring 13.1 points while ranking third in the Big Ten with 9.8 rebounds per game. He also leads the Badgers with 1.2 blocks per game.

3 keys to victory

Come out firing

It goes without saying that whenever Nebraska plays at Pinnacle Bank Arena, it must capitalize on one of the country’s best home-court advantages. For the Huskers to do that, hitting shots early is imperative. Coming out hot from 3-point range will be as important tonight as any game NU has played yet. Wisconsin thrives on the perimeter as much as anyone, ranking 12th nationally in 3-point rate (51.4). The key for NU isn’t just trying to go shot-for-shot with the Badgers. High-percentage looks within the framework of the offense will be critical. Nebraska can’t afford to settle for contested shots against a UW team that ranks 12th nationally in defensive rebounding percentage.

Know when to crash, and always get back

Second-chance opportunities will be like gold tonight. Again, Wisconsin has been excellent at finishing defensive possessions with rebounds. For the most part, so has Nebraska, ranking 74th nationally in defensive rebounding percentage. The challenge for the Huskers – and UW, for that matter – is knowing when to crash the offensive glass and when to get back in transition defense. When the Badgers secure defensive boards, they push the tempo and rarely make mistakes, ranking in the top 30 in adjusted offensive efficiency (26th, 120.0) and turnover percentage (30th, 14.1%). How Nebraska balances that after every shot could define how this one goes.

Bust Berke’s slump

It’s been nearly a month since Berke Buyuktuncel has made a 3-pointer, and it hasn’t been due to a lack of effort. The junior forward has now missed his last 12 attempts, with his last make coming in the win over Oklahoma in Sioux Falls on Nov. 15. Buyuktuncel is now just 2-of-20 from three on the season, a clip that would typically earn an immediate red light from a coach. However, Fred Hoiberg insists that Buyuktuncel’s time is coming. For a player who adds so much as a defender and rebounder, the 6-foot-10, 240-pounder could become invaluable if his shots start to fall. Hoiberg said Buyuktuncel routinely makes 3-pointers in practice. If that can carry into games, it would make an already potent Husker offense that much more dangerous. Against a team with firepower like Wisconsin, a couple of threes from Buyuktuncel could be the difference.

Quotable

“With the (home court) advantage we have, the energy we have in that building, we should expect to win every time we are on the floor. We got some tough games this year against the top half of the Big Ten. We need to establish that, get our crowd in early, and sustain it.”

-Head coach Fred Hoiberg on Nebraska needing to capitalize on what he expects to be another raucous home environment at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Prediction

Nebraska (+1.5) 81, Wisconsin 79

Robin’s season record: 9-0

Vs. the spread: 7-2

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